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Welcome! Artfully Musing is a blog dedicated to sharing art and the techniques and products used. I'll be showcasing collage, altered and mixed media art as well as miniature. I hope you'll check back often and are inspired. Thanks for visiting! Laura

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Video Tutorial – Making a Chest Out Of Matchboxes – Designed for Alpha Stamps

I’m so excited to be bringing you my first ever video tutorial and to share with you how to make a Matchbox Chest.

The overall size of the chest including the feet and handle is 4 ½” tall by 3 ½" wide. This chest would make a perfect gift (if you can stand to part with it). You can fill the drawers with love notes, candy, charms, jewelry or little pieces of art like Inchies.

In the
tutorial I’ll cover the supplies you’ll need and the steps to create this matchbox
chest. I’ve also created two other
versions of the chest to give you even more ideas of what you can do with
matchboxes.

So sit back and relax and enjoy learning how to make a
chest out of matchboxes.

VIDEO PART ONE

Be sure to watch part one before watching part two.

VIDEO PART TWO

As a companion to the video, I’ve created a PDF document that contains the supply lists for all three versions of the matchbox chest and the detailed instructions that are in the video.

It’s really easy to scale the chest up in size. This larger version of the chest is very similar the small version except that I used matchboxes that measure 4 ½” x 2 ½”. This size of matchboxes is sometimes referred to a kitchen matches.

The base is larger than the one in the small version. This is to accommodate the larger feet. The feet I used are no longer available but Alpha Stamps carries feet that would work great for a chest this size and I think they are even prettier than what I used.

Instead of a metal handle I used ribbon.

In
honor of my matchbox chests and this tutorial, Alpha Stamps is offering two NEW Collage Sheets full of French
ephemera. I’ve used some of the images
on the top and back of the chest. One is
the Vintage
French Ads Collage Sheet and the other is the French
Labels Collage Sheet (you can see the fabulous images on the sheets pictured
below.)

I’ve used some of the images from the new collage sheets on
the top and back of the chest.

Dear Laura,this is (like so many others) a most stunning piece, you can surely maKE fantastic creations, and this chest is a new example of that. How wonderfully and gorgeous made- I have not seen the videos, but will later. I`m sorry that I have not so much time to visit now, but follows you anyway, and come looking now and then, and am alwayes leaving with an applause for your wonderful creativety, and gorgeous creations.Hugs,Dorthe

Laura, this is beyond amazing. It is so gogeous. Thank you for sharing and AS here I come, again. Again and again, they have great stuff and you and the other members take my breath away with all your creations....Theresa Goldman

Laura, this is precious. I haven't watched the videos yet, but I think you for making a tutorial. I always appreciate it when an artists takes the time to share in this way. Very generous. Alpha Stamps should never let you go.

oh wow Laura! that is a beautiful piece of work!! i haven't watched the tut yet but ... gosh!! you have such a generous heart sharing what you know with everyone else, and taking all that effort to do the vid and the pdf. i hope you dun mind if i pin this in my pinterest. but i'll link it back here. you have such a big heart my fren ... xo

I haven't been around as much as I would like and I came by tonight to say...OMGoodness, this is amazing. Laura you keep outdoing yourself with all these wonderful creations and thank you for sharing how to do them. I must put this on my to do list.Thank you for the PDF because I will never remember all the steps.Lesley happy summer♥

Laura this is simply an amazing video! You cover every detail so perfectly down to cleaning the E6000 tip! I love matchboxes and someday will gather up the courage to make your beautiful chest...thank you for all the inspiration.Hugs Karla

Talent Dear Friend Laura,oh this matchboxes are perfect, I love them !!I have seen this fabulous tutorial of them and I am enjoying my journey around here so much! Your unique art work is gorgeous.Biggest Hugs, MARTINAoxo

Laura my friend, I´ve missed my words.Your matchboxes are devine.I love them all. Everthing from you is a inspiration for me. Thanks for this tutorial. I hope I can make them. I write on my ToDo List. Thanks.

Hi Laura, OMG!! Perfect!! This video was so instructional and detailed showing every single step to creating your masterpiece!! I can't thank you enough for doing this for all of us!! I await anxiously for your next video. Off to Alpha Stamps to spend another fortune on supplies, LOL

I've just watched the videos - wonderful - but yesterday I printed the pdf and ordered all the papers and bits and bobs from Alpha Stamps, today I managed to buy the matchboxes. Can't wait to start my matchbox chest. Watch this space for my version later in the year. Thank you so much for the tutorial.Hugs Joanne xx

Oh my dear Laura, you have truly outdone yourself this time! This piece may be my favorite of anything I've seen on your blog (which is really saying a lot!!). Thank you so much for sharing this amazing tutorial and this jaw-dropping piece of art!

This is so pretty! My daughter wants interesting objects that can be explored or played with on her wedding tables instead of flower arrangements, this is ideal. Thank you. I just have one thing to check on; when glueing the back onto the matchbox chest wouldn't it be better not to have glue all over, or the drawers pulled out slightly? Just so the the back of the drawer doesn't become fixed and the drawer canot be opened. I can't see how you avoided this in the video.

I'll start by saying that I could this on Pinterest - don't you just love pinterest!

These are beautiful - I love all the details and I watched you videos and your directions are fantastic! I want to make one with the larger match boxes - a place to story your trinkets and such... Fabulous, really fabulous!

Speechless!! Unbelievable, Astonishing, Amazing, Sensational... Just a few words that came to mind when I saw these!! YOU are a major talent!! Very jealous! Joined site, following on Pinterest - now off to videos. Thank you. Caroline :)

I love these matchboxes. I have made a number of them myself after viewing your fantastic tutorials. I purchased a sizzix die that makes candy boxes in hopes of making them w/o having the 1000's of matches I have accumulated after making so many but the matchboxes are so much better and at the price of the matches it is so much cheaper than the die. Thanks so much for all your wonderful projects and tutorials they are greatly admired and appreciated. Traci

Hi I loved the easy to follow tutorial and set about making a mini chest...now all was fine, I measured carefully and took my time to make sure it was all square etc etc.

My problem arose when I tried to pull out the drawers after I had glued on the back. In the video you glued the back on while the drawers were in the unit but surely that means that the backs of the drawers get stuck to the back hence not being able to be pulled out. Am I missing something here? Would appreciate a reply if you could please so I can master this fantastic project.I can be contacted via my blog,http://crafteeowls.blogspot.com Many thanksElaine

I love it! Love the paper and the style. The entire thing just screams out my name. This would fit perfectly in a doll house. I'm so glad I did not start making my match box drawer chest before seeing your tutorial. I have so many ideas now. Thank you!The matchboxes and the paper to decorate it with I have. Just have to hunt down all the other needed things for it here in Sweden.

These are all absolutely fabulous and phenomenal. Thank you so much for the photos, the tutorial pdf and for the videos - so generous of you! On my list of THINGS TO MAKE and pushed towards the top. ;-) (((hugs)))